Thinking about the skills you need to succeed when you return?
You're not expected to know all the answers when you come back to University. The University of Salford Academic Skills Team are here to help you develop the study, research, digital and numeracy skills you need to succeed in your course and get you where you want to go.
You can find and work through lots of interactive eLearning on our skills website salford.ac.uk/skills
Who are the Academic Skills Team
The Academic Skills Team are a friendly team who offer year-round workshops online, and cover a wide range of one-to-one support when you need it. So, whether it’s writing your first assignment, giving a presentation or using digital tools when you come back, they will help you become unstoppable.
Where to start
Reflecting on your learning journey and the academic/practice modules you are returning to can help as you are at a key transition point.
“I didn’t seek any academic support and this was a downfall for me”
- If you are returning to Year 1 of your programme, you should complete Academic Essentials to develop the skills for a smooth transition as you restart university.
- If you are returning to Year 2 or Year 3, it is an ideal time to complete the University of Salford Skills Assessment as it is a key transition point in your programme.
- Complete the Academic Skills Reflection online to identify your skills gaps. You may be asked to log in to your Office 365 account (you will still have access to Office 365 during your break in learning).
- It should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete the Skills Assessment. If you have any difficulties logging in to your Office 365 account, contact Digital IT at the UoS for support.
- After you submit your response you will receive a personalised action plan based on your answers.
- Your action plan will be sent to your University email account and will contain links to eLearning that can help you improve your academic skills.
When and how to study without sacrificing you time
One of the most important things to help you with your university journey is knowing how to effectively manage your study. Not only do you need to know when to study, it’s as important to know how to study. Making your study time as effective as possible will allow you to achieve your best without sacrificing you time, family time, or a social life. In other words, when you refine your study skills, you can enjoy other aspects of your life comfortably too.
We have lots of resources that can help you work out how to study effectively in a way that suits you – there’s no “one size fits all” approach as everyone has different needs.
Skills to support your return to practice learning
We know how important it is to build back your confidence in practice learning after an interruption in study. If you started placement prior to your interruption, it may be helpful and affirming to look back on your Practice Assessment Document (PAD) in your onlinepare.net account on your achievements and feedback from practice.
Some students ask if they can attend a clinical skills/simulated practice session during their interruption too as a 'keeping in touch' day. The University of Salford Simulation and Clinical Skills team will be more than happy to help you. They can signpost you to a calendar of pop-up Sim & Skill Enhancement Labs and the new Student Practice Area where students can practice skills independently without a facilitator. To find out when the next Sim & Skills Lab is taking place email: Healthsociety-simulationandskillsteam@salford.ac.uk
Basic Life Support and Moving & Handling refreshers
If your interruption has been longer than 9 months you will be required to complete face to face Basic Life Support and Moving & Handling training in order to be cleared for placement. This includes completing a pre-session test with a score of 100% prior to your face to face training date. The next training date closest to your return will be sent to you along with the pre-session test as part of the Student Onboarding requirements. You can contact the Onboarding team here: StudentOnboarding@salford.ac.uk
Core Skills Training Framework - eLfH
You will also complete a mandatory refresher in Core Skills online in the eLfH portal. You will need to refresh all 17 units in eLfH - either completing Year 1 Core Skills or Year 3 Core Skills - in order to be cleared for placement.
